I'm thinking of getting the Ariens compact 24 with the B&S engine. What do you guys think about this engine? I herd they are only good for 50 hours of use . I think that is unsat. How true it is I do not know. There are not many engine choices these days. I need to know how you guys feel with the 205cc engine. The good as well as the bad.

Location: The Village in the Middle of New York
Joined: Dec 11, 2010
Points: 211

Re: B&S 205cc snow engineReply #1 Oct 23, 2011 5:54 pm

What do mean only good up tp 50 hours of use? I probably put 3/4's of that on my Toro 826OXE in the first season, so you telling me another 12+ hours and I need a new motor? Absolutely bad information. While its not a Honda B&S are really good engines. I would say with proper maintenance there good for 500+ hours. Probably more!

What do mean only good up tp 50 hours of use? I probably put 3/4's of that on my Toro 826OXE in the first season, so you telling me another 12+ hours and I need a new motor? Absolutely bad information. While its not a Honda B&S are really good engines. I would say with proper maintenance there good for 500+ hours. Probably more!

I know it sounds a very low # of hours. I was just refering to what I read. I did call Briggs and they could not give me a set # of hours. They just told me that they have engines still running 30 years old with proper maintance.

It's very unlikely that even the cheapest of engines built would be rated for 50 hours. As previously mentioned, that is likely the EPA compliance minimum.

Absolutely. The minimum compliance duration for the Briggs 205cc snow engine is 250 hours. The LCT 208cc is 125 hours. The Subaru 211cc is 250 hours. It has absolutely nothing to do with operational durability (or the Subaru would rated be much higher than the other two). Any of these engines would outlast any snowblower if the only consideration was operational run time. The terminal disease is poor maintenance, neglect, and old age.